I decided to tackle part of this path on Thanksgiving Day (yesterday) because it was hot and sunny AND it has probably been about 25 years since I actually walked through some of these paths. Why did I wait so long???
My friends and I put on our best lululemon gear, hiking shoes and filled our backpacks with snacks, water and in my case, a massive amount of sunscreen (I can't believe I needed it so much on October 10th!). We met at Davisville Station and headed down to the Beltline Trail at the north gate of Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
I admit that we got a bit lost as we wandered through the cemetery and couldn't find the Beltline signs, but it was ok because the cemetery is beautiful. Thanks to my brilliant sense of direction, I got us out at Bayview Avenue and we headed south to Moore, where the path ends at the cemetery and then descends into the Don Valley Ravine path network. The trees are changing colour, so it was absolutely stunning to walk under the canopy.
We continued to the Brickworks, which is more revitalized every time I go, though as you approach that section, the silence of nature is replaced with the sounds of the DVP. After another of many snack and rest stops, we decided to head to the Moore Park ravine area, and ascend up to Bloor Street, where we came out near Sherbourne station.
It was an incredible 3.5 hours to spend walking through a hidden gem in this city. No cars are needed to get to an entry point as it is very TTC and bike/walking friendly. My only complaint would be that the maps that one can download from the City of Toronto Parks website are not clear and I missed a few of the trails I wanted to walk along that split off the main path. Washrooms are open from May - October, so keep that in mind.
People are friendly and there are a lot of dogs to say hi to. I highly recommend this as an activity for just about anyone who likes nature, people and happiness. Just don't forget to bring water, a camera and in my case, plenty of snacks. read more